Date: 13 Feb 2025
Tropical Seeds You Should Start Now for Spring Planting
Eight fast-growing, rewarding tropical perennials
to start from seed
Q: What tropical seeds can I start now so the seedlings will be ready for spring planting and produce flowers or fruit this year?
A: Many tropical plants grow quickly from seed and can mature within the same year, rewarding you with flowers or even fruit. Some of these tropical perennials can even be grown as annuals in cooler climates! The key is to start them early indoors, then transplant them outdoors as soon as warm weather arrives. With just a little planning, you can enjoy vibrant blooms and a harvest in just weeks or a few months. Below are some of the fastest-growing tropicals to try for a lush, same-year garden.
1. Pigeon Pea
Cajanus cajan Bicolor Fuerte - Pigeon Pea - is an ancient superfood cultivated for over 4,800 years, with roots in India and Ancient Egypt. This hardy, drought-tolerant perennial shrub produces nutritious, protein-rich beans used in rice dishes, soups, and even tofu. Easy to grow, it thrives in poor soils, improves soil quality, and offers medicinal benefits, making it a valuable plant for both gardens and kitchens. Seed to crop in just one season!
2. Lipstick Tree - Annatto
Bixa orellana - The Lipstick Tree, native to South America, is a striking shrub with large leaves, pink flowers, and vibrant red seeds. Its seeds produce Annatto, a natural pigment used in cosmetics, especially lipstick, as well as in culinary applications for its color and mild, peppery flavor. Beyond its beauty and versatility, annatto offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, while the plant itself makes an excellent hedge or ornamental feature.
3. Mexican Bird of Paradise
Caesalpinia mexicana - Mexican Bird of Paradise - is a rare gem among tropical shrubs, offering fragrant butter-yellow blooms that stand out against its feathery green foliage. A heat-loving, drought-tolerant plant, it attracts hummingbirds and can be grown as a compact shrub or small tree. Native to northern Mexico, it thrives in full sun with minimal water, making it a low-maintenance yet striking addition to any garden or patio.
4. Tree Calliandra
Calliandra houstoniana - Tree Calliandra is the only tree-form Powderpuff, growing into a lush, bushy tree in just one season. Its fluffy pink blooms appear year-round, drawing in hummingbirds and butterflies for a nonstop display of color and life. Super fast-growing and beautiful, it's a must-have for wildlife-friendly gardens!
5. Butterfly Pea - Clitoria
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea - is a stunning vine with vibrant blue, white, or purple flowers that captivate both gardeners and pollinators. Beyond its beauty, it's prized for its herbal benefits, with its flowers used in teas for stress relief and cognitive support. The famous Blue Tea, a caffeine-free infusion, turns purple with a splash of lemon, making it both a visual delight and a health-boosting drink. Fast-growing and easy to manage, this delicate yet vigorous vine is perfect for fences, trellises, and containers. Seed to crop in just one season!
6. Cas Guava
Psidium friedrichsthalianum - Costa Rican Guava, or Cas Guava, is a super sour fruit with four times more vitamin C than a lemon, making it a powerhouse for immune support. Popular in Costa Rica's "Agua de Cas", its tangy juice is perfect for refreshing drinks. Hardy and resilient, this low-maintenance tree thrives in poor soils while resisting pests and diseases. This is the fastest growing and the most productive guava tree with 2-3 crops per year! From seed to crop: 3 years.
7. Agua de Flor de Jamaica - Karkade Tea
The most health-beneficial hibiscus is Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle), known for its deep red calyces used in Agua de Flor de Jamaica and Karkade Tea. This tart, refreshing tea is packed with antioxidants and supports heart health, digestion, and immune function. A fast-growing plant, it goes from seed to a lush, flower-filled bush in just one season! From seed to crop: in just 3 months!
8. Dwarf Papaya TR Hovey
Papaya Dwarf TR Hovey, Carica papaya - is a dwarf marvel, reaching only 4-5 feet tall while producing giant, melon-sized sweet papayas! This compact variety is perfect for small gardens and container growing, offering big fruit on a tiny tree - a true space-saving tropical treasure! Only 2 years from seed to fruit.
Date: 26 Aug 2024
Top ten fast-fruiting trees
Q: I would like to plant several fruit trees... I am 85 years old and hope to see them fruiting soon. What fruit trees can you recommend that will fruit quickly?
A: Most grafted fruit trees, such as Mango, Avocado, and Peaches, will fruit quickly - often within the same year or the next. There are also many wonderful tropical fruits that will produce for you within a year or two, even without the need for grafting. Below are the top 10 of most popular, most rewarding and easy to grow fast fruiting tropical trees:
1. Annona - Sugar Apple, Custard Apple.
Annonas are the fastest fruiting trees: 2-3-4 years from seed to fruit, depending on species. They are the best tropical fruit trees suited for container growing, due to their small height and can be maintained within 6-8 ft tall.
2. Guava (Psidium sp.): Cattley and Tropical guava
Guava is a reliable producer, starts fruiting in a pot at small size. Some varieties, especially Cattley guavas - Psidium littorale - are relatively cold hardy and can take some frost without damage. Guavas are fast growing small trees or large bushes.
3. Eugenia - Tropical Cherries
Eugenias are favorites of Southern gardens. They are relatively cold hardy and start producing right away. Black Surinam Cherry Lolita and Grumichama are our favorites!
4. Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Another exceptional tropical cherry is Barbados Cherry. It is super popular as a heavy producer. The plant can start fruiting when it's only a few inches tall! If you are looking for a compact, but fast growing tree with colorful fruit that starts fruiting right away - plant Barbados Cherry. It will also happily fruit in containers.
5. Eriobotrya (Eriobotrya japonica)
Loquat tree is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, compact tropical fruit tree. It is a heavy producer. Fruits are juicy, aromatic, and resemble apricots. Ripen from early Spring to early Summer. Ideal for small gardens, beginner fruit tree growers.
6. Papaya (Carica papaya)
Papaya is probably the fastest fruiting tree that can start production the same year from planting a seed. Many dwarf varieties available in selection, reaching only 6-8 ft tall, but producing large crops of full size fruit - they are easy to harvest. Plant 2-3 Papaya trees of different cultivars that fruit at different times of the year and enjoy heavy crops of healthy fruit year around! Another benefit - this tree doesn't take much space in the garden, you can plant as many as you want.
7. Mulberry (Morus hybrids)
Mulberry is very cold hardy and can grow in wide range of climate zones, from USDA 5 to 10. Everyone knows this sweet, tasty, juicy fruit. The tree will produce right away, you will see fruit the next season after planting, and the tree grows fast.
8. Carambola - Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Growing Carambola tree is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy this unique star-shaped delicious fruit right at home. It fruits on the 3d year from seed. The tree is easy to grow and reliable producer, providing wind protection.
9. Blackberry Jam Fruit (Randia formosa)
Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa is a curious small evergreen tree or bush that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.
10. Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia argentea)
Peanut Butter Tree, earns its name from its fleshy fruits that boast a delightful peanut butter flavor. Compact in size, small tree reaching only 10-15 ft or kept as a bush, it's a perfect choice for limited spaces. Can thrive indoors, starting to fruit within just 2-3 years from seed.
Date: 28 Apr 2024
Why is it called Pineapple Guava? It tastes just like strawberries! Feijoa Superfood
Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Feijoa sellowiana
Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Feijoa sellowiana
- Feijoa is certainly one of the easiest fruit trees to grow as it does not require much care.
- Feijoa is an attractive, evergreen large shrub that produces lovely edible flowers and fruit.
- The fruit is eaten fresh, added to smoothies, fruit salads, used to make delicious jam (that tastes like Strawberry Jam on steroids!), and wicked chutneys.
Feijoa fruit go a long way in flavor!
📚 Learn more about Feijoa
🛒Grow your own Feijoa
#Edible_Forest #Guava
TopTropicals.com
Date: 30 Sep 2025
Can you name all the fruits on this tray? One of them will stump you!
Papaya, Avocado, Egyptian guava and Cas guava, Barbados cherry, Peanut butter fruit
Can you name all the fruits on this tray? One of them will stump you!
- 🥭 This morning I walked the garden and came back with a tray of fruits! That’s the joy of living in Florida with your own tropical garden: something new is always in season.
- 🥭 On today’s tray: Papaya, Avocado, Egyptian guava and Cas guava, Barbados cherry… And this little red one? Peanut butter fruit!
- 🥭 At Top Tropicals, you’ll find every tropical fruit tree you can imagine. What fruits are you harvesting from your garden right now?
🛒 Explore rare tropical fruit
📚 Learn more:
- 10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
- Five best fruit trees to plant in Summer
- Top 10 fast-fruiting trees
#Food_Forest #Discover
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date: 20 Nov 2025
Feijoa coconut loaf: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Fejoa (Feijoa sellowiana)
Feijoa coconut loaf
🍴 Feijoa coconut loaf: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
- 🔴Mix Feijoa pulp into a coconut quick-bread batter.
- 🔴Bakes into a fragrant tropical treat.
Feijoa Coconut Loaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup feijoa pulp, finely chopped
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a loaf pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut, and salt.
- Mix eggs, sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla.
- Fold dry ingredients into wet, then stir in feijoa pulp.
- Pour batter into loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until golden and a toothpick tests clean.
- Cool before slicing.
🛒 Plant exotic fragrant Feijoa - Pineapple Guava
📚 Learn more:
- Pineapple Guava: fragrant fruit, beautiful blooms, and real health benefits
- Why is it called Pineapple Guava? It tastes just like strawberries! Feijoa Superfood.
#Food_Forest #Recipes
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals